"The appointment was arranged over the phone and date and approximate time for my car to be collected was agreed. The car was duly collected and returned later in the day, with the job having been completed. The invoice was for the estimated amount, with payment being made over the phone. A nice touch was that the car, which had not been washed for at least 3 months, was returned having been washed. The staff were polite and friendly. In all, a very straightforward and satisfactory job."

"Was easy to book in online, Gary called from the garage to confirm my booking and drop off time, quick to check car in and confirm pick up time, car was ready as expected and all work taken confirmed / explained to me"

How do car brakes work?

The brakes on your car utilise fluid pressure.
When the brake pedal is depressed, it activates a plunger in the master cylinder,
which pressurises the brake fluid in the pipes and hoses causing the brake components to move.
A brake system which has leaks or air bubbles will not operate correctly, or not at all,
so regular inspections are very important.

Brake repairs are one of the most common reasons to visit a garage;
all cars need their brake discs and pads replaced at regular intervals. Some of the warning signs
for brake failure are squealing or grinding noises when depressing the brakes, or the brake feeling
'spongy' when the pedals is pressed. And of course if you need to brake increasingly hard to effectively
slow or stop your car, then you could well be looking at brake replacement.

There are two main types of brake systems: disc brakes and drum brakes.

Disc brake systems are comprised of two pads per wheel,
which clamp down on the brake disc when the brake pedal is depressed.
When the fluid becomes pressurised, it sends a plunger in the calliper forward,
forcing the brake pads on either side of the brake disc to squeeze it,
which results in the slowing and stopping of the car.

Drum brakes operate in the same way as disc brakes, but with a different design.
They both use friction to slow and stop the car, but drum brakes use shoes, instead of pads.
The shoes are inside the steel brake drum itself, which spins with the wheel.
When brake pressure is applied, a component called the wheel cylinder expands,
forcing the brake shoes apart and towards the inside edge of the drum.
Drum brakes are usually found on older vehicles, or just on the rear brake system.

About Vauxhall

Founded by a Scottish marine engineer in (you guessed it) Vauxhall, London in 1857, the company has been under the umbrella
of American giant General Motors since 1925. Notable former Vauxhall cars include classics such as the Victor, Chevette,
and Cavalier, while the current car range includes city cars like the Adam and Viva, extended range electric cars like the
Ampera, the Astra, and the Zafira Tourer, a large MPV. Vauxhall also sells high-performance versions of a smattering of its
offerings under the sub-brand VXR.

In the UK market at least, Vauxhall is regularly in the running with Ford to top the sales charts (although it’s never
quite taken top spot).

About the Vauxhall Corsa

Due to generous offers on the sales front, the previous model of the Vauxhall Corsa was one of the most popular sold in
the UK after its introduction, despite similar offerings from the other big producers. However, the current Corsa makes
a number of improvements on its predecessor including loads of extra space and improved looks. With three and five door
options, there’s something for everyone. The main issue that has come up with this make, particularly the 2008 Vauxhall
Corsa, is clutch burnout. If that’s been a problem for you, we can help you find the right garage to fix the problem.

What do you need from your garage?

You may live within walking distance of a garage which offers most of the services you need. However, by sticking
with the nearest garage in Towcester you could be missing out on a better deal. What if a garage with a collection / drop
off service or courtesy car could do the same job at a good price, without the inconvenience of losing your car for the
duration of the repair? BookMyGarage allows you to search for local garages which offer this facility, and compare their
prices, all in one session.